This is one of the most comforting and convicting chapters in the bible. Jesus asks us to "abide in Him" and allow His words to "abide in us." He promises to be "with" us and gives the promise of the Holy Spirit Who will be "in" us. He knows that we desire to be "fruitful" and gives the pathway for that to happen. It is such a rich chapter!
But consider these words in verse 5, "for apart from me you can do nothing." Nothing? What does Jesus mean by that? We all know that there is plenty that we do "apart from" Jesus. We pursue our own paths and do lots of things. Sometimes even really good things! But Jesus calls them "nothing".
I believe Jesus is calling us to obedience. Abiding for me sometimes means "doing less". Abiding for me sometimes means "waiting, watching and listening." Abiding is choosing to obey Jesus' voice. It is deciding to follow Jesus wherever He leads and not to trying to drag Him down our own paths.
Activity, even good activity, can amount to "nothing" if it is not done in obedience to Christ. He measure with a different scale.
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